COLOMBIA EXTRADITES DRUG SUSPECT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - For the second time in less than a week, Colombia
braved a possible terrorist backlash and extradited a major drug suspect to
the United States on Thursday.

Venezuelan Fernando Jose Florez, who faces a U.S. indictment for shipping
cocaine to Florida on behalf of the Cali drug cartel, was whisked away in a
U.S. government plane destined for Miami.

On Sunday, the government extradited a suspected Colombian heroin kingpin,
Jaime Orlando Lara. It was the first time since 1990 that Colombia had
delivered one of its nationals to stand trial in the United States.

But the man extradited Thursday may prove the bigger catch.

U.S. prosecutors believe the corpulent Florez, known in the drug world as
"Fatso," may provide testimony they need to request the extraditions of two
of the biggest Colombian drug lords - the brothers who ran the Cali cocaine
cartel.

The resumption of extraditions marks a historic change for the South
American country that produces 80 percent of the world's cocaine.

Colombia outlawed the practice in 1991, capitulating to a wave of bombings
and assassinations by late Medellin drug boss Pablo Escobar. The ban
strained ties to Washington until December 1997, when the country
reinstated extradition in a constitutional reform.

Many Colombians feared drug traffickers would revive the terror - a concern
heightened when a car bomb killed eight passersby in an upscale Bogota
shopping district two weeks ago.

But just hours after the attack, President Andres Pastrana defiantly signed
the extradition papers for Lara, Florez and a Cuban national, Sergio
Gonzalez. Thirty-nine other drug suspects are awaiting possible extradition.

On Wednesday, President Clinton praised Pastrana's courage and pledged to
work with Congress on a major aid package to Colombia next year.

U.S. officials have long dreamed of a U.S. trial for Miguel and Gilberto
Rodriguez Orejuela, the former heads of the Cali cocaine cartel jailed in
Colombia in 1995. The two were thought to be protected, however, because
the December 1997 constitutional change only permits extradition for crimes
after that date.

Florez, 38, may have evidence that would prove the former Cali bosses have
continued to run a drug empire from their Bogota cells.

Prison records show the Venezuelan visited the Rodriguez Orejuelas 17 times
in the months prior to his August 1988 arrest. The former Cali kingpins say
Florez is just a friend, but U.S. and Colombian officials suspect drug
deals were discussed.

In an interview last week in Colombia's Semana magazine, Florez backed the
Rodriguez Orejuela's claim of innocence, but indicated he might testify
against them anyway.

Facing the alternative of a probable life term in a tough U.S. prison, "I
will have to tell them what they want," Florez said.

In the interview, Florez admitted to the crime for which he was indicted in
the United States - shipping eight tons of cocaine to Florida in 1991 for
the Cali cartel through a Venezuelan front company. But he claims he should
be tried in Colombia.

Miguel and Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela would face probably life terms if
convicted in the United States. In Colombia, they live in comfortable
cells, serving out 22-and 10-year sentences which are expected to be
slashed for good behavior.

U.S. officials say extradition is necessary because Colombia's justice
system, subject to constant threats and bribery, has proven incapable of
strongly punishing drug criminals.